Automatic blow-out preventer



JuHy 31, 1934. F. w. HILD AUTOMATIC BLOW-OUT PREVENTER Filed Aug. 7 1929 2 ShsetsSheet l July 3l, 1934. F. w. HILD 1,968,297

AUTOMATIC BLOW- OUT PREVENTER Filed Aug. 7, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented .Bully 3l, i934?? AUTMATEC BLIlW-@IUT PREVENTEE Frederic W. lliiild,

Application August FJ,

2@ Claims.

My invention relates to blow-out prevention for wells and appertains more particularly to blow-out prevention when drilling with the rotary method.

It is an object of my invention to provide a blow-out preventer which operates automatically to prevent the ejection of the drill pipe from a well when high underground fluid pressures are encountered.

Another object is to provide a preventerwhich shall operate automatically to close in one movement the several outlets of a well.

Other objects and advantages will be apparen from the following description and the accompanying drawings: v

Figure l shows in vertical section the blow-out preventer embodying my invention. 1n this iigure the preventer is shown in the open position.

Figure 2 shows in vertical section the preventer in the closed position.

Figure 3 is a detail view in vertical section showing the closure with the drill pipe and drill pipe protector. n

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4 4 0f Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectionY taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 2, but showing the two-way valve in the opposite position from that shown in Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the housing 8 consists of the body 9 to which is detachably secured the top 10. The body 9 is permanently secured to the well casing 11 by means of the casing flange 12. The body 9 has lateral outlets 13, 14 and 15 respectively which are adapted to be valve controlled. The top 10 and the upper part of body 9 form the conical chamber 16 which converges upwardly to the top opening 17. The drill pipe 18 with its tool joints 19 and its occasional rubber protectors 20, extends through the top opening 17, through the housing 8 and into the Well casing 11.

Within the housing 8 are a pair of semi-circular slips or packers 21 which co-operate to form a bore 22 that substantially fits the drill pipe 18. The faces of the bore are serrated in part as indicated at 23 and also contain the packings 24, so that the slips or packers 21, when forced together, will engage the drill pipe 18 in fluid tight grip. As shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, the meeting edges of the packers or slips 21 interlllos Angeles, Calif.

11929,. Serial No. 334,213

(Cl. ll66-l5) engage as by being formed with angular guides or serratons 21. The peripheries of the slips are of conical form and are adapted for sliding contact with the walls of chamber 16, and to nt the conical bore of said chamber. Each slip or packer is pivoted in a pair of links 25 and both pairs of links are pivoted on the pins 26 and 27 respectively which are secured to the mud valve 28. This mud valve consists of the ring 29, the guide vanes 30 and the valve gate 3l. The slips or packers 21 are further secured to the ring 29 by the springs 32. The links 25 and the springs 32 operate to eiect lateral separation of the slips or packers. The ring 29 normally rests upon plungers 33 which are slidably mounted in openings 34 formed in the body 9. The openings 34 at their lower ends communicate with annular ductL35, which in turn communicates with outlet .v 15. This outlet is controlled by the two-way valve 36 which may connect with the mud pump or the steam supply, or a water supply of adequate pressure. The two-way valve 36 also controls an inlet opening 37 which permits fluid to drain from the openings 34 and the duct 35 into the Well casing 11.

The two-way valve 36 is contained in the valve chamber 38 formed by the projection 39. The two-way valve consists of the valve disc 40 secured to the valve stem 41, which passes through the spool 42, the packing 43, the gland 44, and the retaining nut/i5. The valve stern is threaded in the retaining nut, so that rotation of the stem will move the valve disc from its seat in inlet 37 to its other seat in spool 42 which communicates with `outlet 15. Fluid from the mud pump or other pressure supply may pass through openings in the ilange of spool 42 into duct 35 and openings 34 and force the plungers 33 upwardly. Upon moving the valve disc to close the openings in the flange of spool 42, the inlet 37 is opened, whereupon the fluid may drain as before explained, and the plungers 33 will drop back to their lower positions. However, when inlet 37 is open, the fluid pressure in casing 11 can act by way of this inlet and duct 35 upon the bottom of the pistons 33, urging them if the pressure is excessive, to assist in closing the outlets.

The mud valve 28 is maintained in axial alignment by the valve seat 46 which is a cylindrical bore in the body 9. The mud valve 28 and with it the slips or packers 21, may rotate and may move axially inthe housing 8. 'Ihe valve seat 46 has the two ports 47 which are opposite each other and which open into the mud channel 48 which in tum opens into outlet 14. When the mud valve 28 is in the bottom or open position, the spaces between the guide ivanes 30 permit the fluid rising from Well casing l1 into housing 8, to flow through the ports 47 into the channel 48 and discharge from outlet 14. When the mud valve 28 is in the upward or closed position, the valve gate 31 closes the ports 47 so that no uid can discharge from outlet 14. i

l The top 10 is secured to the body 9 by breech lock formed by the slots 49 in the body 9 and the engaging lugs 50 in the top 10. A pin 5l inserted in a hole in body 9 intercepts a lug 50 to prevent the lugs from rotating out of engagement with their respective slots. Upon removal of the top l0, the slips 21 and the mud valve 28, with their connecting links 25 and springs 32, may be lifted out of the body 9 and through the rotary machine (not shown) above the preventer.

Outlet 13 which is normally kept closed, may be used to by-pass the outlet 14 when the mud valve 28 and the slips 21 are in the upward, closed position. Excessive underground iluid pressures in the well, will force the fluid upwardly in well casing 11 and the said uid, upon attaining suicient velocity, will elevate the mud valve and the slips or packers,-the walls of conical chamber 16 serving to force the slips or packers together and seat them in the upper part of the chamber, gripping the drill pipe 18, and closing the top opening 17. The same result is also attained by means of the plungers 33 as before described. The serrations 23 in the slips or packers 21 are so cut that when lowering the drill pipe 18 the slips or packers will be forced downward and thus their wedging in the conical chamber of housing 8 will be prevented. The lower surfaces of packers 21, when closed, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, form a counterbored seat for any enlarged member on pipe 18, such as tool joint 19 or protector 20.

Although I have described several specic embodiments of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, that various modifications may be made in the details of construction, the general arrangement, the association of the several co-operating parts and the application of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or the principles herein set forth.

I claim as my invention: 1. A blow out preventer comprising a housin through which a drill pipe is adapted to extend a pair of packers to close the housing and having packing for engaging the drill pipe and having interengaging angular contacts, and means for forcing said contacts into engagement.

2. A blow out preventer comprising a housing through which a drill pipe is adapted to extend, a pair of packers having packing for engaging the drill pipe to close the housing, and piston 'means for forcing the packer against the drill pipe and against each other, said packers having interengaging angular contacts.

3. A blowout preventer comprising a housing having a chamber converging axially upwards and adapted to receive a drill pipe which extends through the axial opening, slips in said chamber for gripping the pipe and closing the opening, said slips having interengaging serrations which when engaged, completely close the axial opening.

4. A blow out preventer comprising a housing through which a drill pipe is adapted to extend, a plurality of packers for engaging the drill pipe to close the housing, liuid pressure operated means for operating said packers, and

means for optionally supplying fluid pressure externally of the housing and for causing the fluid pressure in the housing to be exerted on said uid pressure operated means. l C

5. A blow out preventer comprising a housing through which a drill pipe is adapted to extend, a plurality of packers for engaging the drill pipe to close the housing, uid pressure operated means for operating said packers, and a twoway valve for optionally supplying fluid pressure externally of the housing and for causing the iluid pressure in the housing to be exerted on said uid pressure operated means.

6. A blow-out preventer comprising a housing having a conical chamber and adapted to receive a drill pipe, conical slips in said chamber for gripping the drill pipe, and a common means pendent from said slips for separating the slips.

7. A blow-out preventer comprising a housing through which a drill pipe is adapted to extend, said housing containing slips for gripping the drill pipe, and a valve gate secured to said slips for controlling a uid outlet of said housing.

8. A control head consisting of: a bottom member having a lateral outlet and containing fluid operated lifting means, a top member secured by breech lock to the bottom member and having a taper bore converging axially upward, said two members forming a housing containing taper slips for engaging drill pipe in fluid tight grip, a cylindrical valve gate for the lateral outlet and resting upon the fluid lifting means, and links for pivotally securing the slips to the valve gate, said bottom member having means for securing the same to well casing.

9. A blowout preventer comprising a housing having a chamber converging axially upwards and adapted to receive a drill pipe, slips in said chamber for gripping the drill pipe, and a plurality of means pendent respectively from each of said slips for separating the slips, and mechanically joined to each other said means acting t0 simultaneously separate the slips.

10. A blowout preventer comprising a housing through which a drill pipe is adapted to extend, said housing contain-ing slips for gripping the drill pipe, a valve gate for controlling a fluid outlet of said housing, and means connecting said slips and said valve gate, said means acting to normally separate the slips and maintain them out of engagement with the drill pipe.

11. A control head for well casing comprising a housing having an axial outlet through which a drill pipeis adapted to extend, and a lateral outlet, said housing containing slips for gripping the drill pipe to close the axial outlet, a valve gate for controlling the lateral outlet, and means connecting said slips and the valve gate, said means acting to normally separate lthe slips for opening the axial outlet.

12. A control head for well casing comprising a housing having an axial outlet through which a drill pipe is adapted to extend, and a lateral outlet, said housing containing slips for gripping the drill pipe to close the axial outlet, a mud valve for controlling the lateral outlet, said mud valve comprising a ring and a depending valve gate, and means connecting said slips and said ring where.- by a movement of one will cause a consequent movement of the other to simultaneously open or close said outlets.

' 13. A control head for well casing comprising a housing having an axial outlet through which a drill pipe is adapted to extend, and a lateral outlet, said housing containing slips for gripping the drill pipe to close the axial outlet, a mud valve for controlling the lateral outlet, said slips and mud valve being rotatable and axially movable, means connecting said slips and mud valve, fluid operating means in said housing upon which the mud valve rests, means forming cylinders in said housing in which the duid operating means are adapted to reciprocate, means forming a continuous duct connecting said cylinders which is adapted to be connected to a source of fluid pressure, and' means controlling the flow of fluid to said duct, said means when moved in one direction permits -the now of iiuid through said duct and into the duct and permits the uid from the cylinder to drain and consequently causes the iluid operating means and mud valve to lower.

14. A control head for well casing comprising a housing having an axial outlet through which a drill pipe is adapted to extend, and a lateral outlet, said housing at its upper portion having a taper bore converging axially upward, and containing tapered slips adapted to coact with the bore for engaging the drill pipe in a iluid tight grip, a mud valve vforcontrolling the lateral outlet, said slips and mud valve being rotatable and axially movable, means connecting said slips and mud valve, fluid operating means in said housing upon which the-mud valve rests, means forming cylinders in said housing in which the fluid operating means/are adapted to reciprocate, means forming a continuous duct connecting said cylinders which is adapted to be connectedto a source of fluid pressure, and means controlling the ow of uid to said duct, said means when moved in one direction permits the ilow of uid through said duct and into the cylinders `for raising the iluid operating means and consequently the mud valve to close the lateral outlet, and said means when moved in the oppo'site direction shuts off the flow o1 fluidl to the duct and permits the uid from the cylinders to drain and consequently causes the uid operating means and the mud valve to lower.

15. A control head for well casing comprising a housing having an axial outlet through which a drill pipe is adapted to extend, and a lateral outlet, said housing at its upper portion having a taper bore converging axially upward, and containing tapered slips adapted to coact with the bore for engaging the drill pipe in a fluid tight grip, a mud valve for controlling the lateral outlet, said slips and mud valve being rotatable and axially movable, means connecting said slips and mud valve, said means normally acting to keep said slips separated, iluid operating means in said housing upon which the mud valve rests, means forming cylinders in said housing in which the uid operating means are adapted to reciprocate, means forming a continuous duct connecting said cylinders which is adapted to be connected to a source of iiuid pressure, and means controlling the iow of uid to said duct, said means whenmoved in one direction permits .the ilow of iluid through said duct and into the cylinders for raising the fluid operating means and consequently the mud'y valve to close the lateral outlet, and said means when moved in the opposite direction shuts oi the flow of fluid to the duct and permits the fluid from the cylinders to drain and consequently causes the iiuid operating means and the mud valve to lower.

16. A control head for well casing comprising a housing having an axial outlet through which a drill pipe is adapted to extend, and a lateral outlet, said housing at its upper portion having a taper bore converging axially upward, and containing tapered slips adapted to coact with the bore for engaging the drill pipe in a fluid tight grip, a mud valve for controlling the lateral out- `let, said slips and mud valve being rotatable and axially movable, means connecting said slips and mud valve, fluid operating means in said housing upon which the mud valve rests, means forming cylinders in said housing in which the fluid operating means are adapted to reciprocate, means forming a continuous duct connecting said cylinders which is adapted to be connected to a source of uid pressure, and means controlling the flow of fluid to said duct, said means when moved in one direction permits the flow of uid through said d uct and into the cylinders for raising the fluid operating means and consequently the mud valve to close the lateral outlet, and said means when moved in the opposite direction shuts off the ow. of fluid to the duct and permits the iluid from the cylinders to drain and consequently causes the fluid operating means and the mud valve to lower, said control head being so characterized, that when the mud valve has been raised to close the lateral outlet, a pressure builds up in the housing which urges the slips into the tapered bore to grip the drill pipe an close the axial outlet.

17. In a device of the character described, a housing forming a vcasing head, a drill string passing therethrough, said housing having an axial as well as a lateral outlet, a pair of means forming closures respectively for said outlets, and located in the housing, said closure for the axial outlet being adapted to engage said drill string and means mechanically connecting said closure means so that actuation of one of them causes a corresponding actuation of the other closure means.

18. In a device of the character described, a housing forming a casing head, a drill string passing therethrough, said housing having an axial as well as a lateral outlet, a pair of means forming closures respectively for said outlets, and located in the housing, said closurev for the axial outlet being adapted to engage said drill string, means forming an interlock between the pair of closure means, and means whereby fluid pressure vin the housing may act to operate both closure means.

19. A control head for well casing comprising a housing having a plurality of fluid outlets, a drill string extending through one of said outlets, and means in said housing for automatically closing said outlets in response to excessive uid pressure traversing said housing, said means comprising a plurality of interconnected dependent closing members which act simultaneously to close the outlets, some of said members engaging the string to effect said closure.

20. A control head for well casing comprising a housing having an axial and lateral outlet, a drill string extending through the axial outlet, and

means in said housing for automatically closing said outlets in response to excessive fluid pressure traversing said housing, said means comprising a pair of interconnected closing devices which actto close the axial and lateral outlet simultaneously whereby the blowout of uids is prevented, the closing device lor the axial outlet engaging the string to eiect said closure. l

. FREDERIC W. BILD. 

